“It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.”
It amazes me how little self-awareness some people have about how they smell. When I smell bad, I can usually tell, or my wife lets me know, that I need deodorant or a shower. Recently, we sat next to a guy on a plane who smelled like he hadn’t showered in a week. Let’s just say, that was not an aroma that was pleasing to the nose. Thank God it was only a two-hour flight…
The book of Leviticus begins where Exodus ends, at the foot of Mount Sinai. The tabernacle had just been completed (Exodus 35-40), and the Lord was ready to teach His people how to worship Him properly. In Leviticus 1, He lists five key offerings the Israelites were to make for forgiveness and to restore their relationship with Him: the burnt offering, grain offering, fellowship offering, sin offering, and guilt offering. (Side note: Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we don’t have to go through this process anymore. Our sins are completely forgiven and washed clean. Praise God.)
The verse above says that the sacrifice of a sheep or goat was “pleasing to the Lord.” Not because of the act itself, but because of the heart behind it. It wasn’t just about following the rules, it was about attitude and sincerity.
Think about your own attitude today. Are you simply going through the motions in your faith? Or do you see your life as a privilege to serve the Lord because of all He has done for you? I know for me, I can sometimes go on autopilot and just read the Bible, go to church, and serve out of religious duty and forget that it is a privilege to be in a relationship with God. Sometimes I can get rigid and stale, following God’s commands because I feel like I have to rather than because I want to.
It’s important for me to remember that because of Jesus, we are already an aroma pleasing to the Lord, not because of what we do, but because of what He has done (Ephesians 5:2). With that said, our lives still give off a scent to the world around us.
Today, let’s check our spiritual aroma before we step out into the world. Are we reflecting His goodness and giving off the aroma of Christ or walking around spiritually unaware of how we come across like the guy on the plane? Maybe it looks like showing grace to that coworker with an attitude, being kind and generous even when it’s undeserved, or choosing joy when everyone else is negative. Whatever it looks like for you, let’s do our best to spread the aroma of Christ today.
Prayer: Lord, I thank You for Your sacrifice that paid the ultimate price for my sin. Salvation is a free gift, and I am forever grateful. Help me remember that it is not a chore to serve You and it’s not about perfection. It is the highest honor to represent Christ to a lost and broken world. Give me the aroma of forgiveness, kindness, generosity and love, even for the most difficult people today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Let It Go 
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